Sir Lucian Grainge

Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award

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Grainge has spent his entire career in the music industry and has signed and worked with many worldwide stars, including ABBA, Elton John, Migos, Queen, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Sam Smith, U2, The Weeknd and Amy Winehouse, among many others. Having spent the first part of his career as a talent scout, Grainge achieved early success with artists including Psychedelic Furs, Eurythmics and the Pet Shop Boys, to name a few. His unique ability to identify global hit songs earned him a reputation as one of the most successful A&R executives in the industry.

Throughout his career Grainge not only pioneered new approaches to the signing and development of the world’s most successful recording artists and songwriters but he has consistently championed the development of innovative business models and partnerships with a wide range of technology and media partners around the world. His inspiring leadership has been recognized as having returned the music industry to growth after suffering more than a decade of decline.

Under Grainge’s leadership, UMG set numerous creative records including being the first music company with nine of the top 10 songs on Billboard’s Digital Songs chart and the first music company to score all 10 of the top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100.

Sir Lucian Grainge has been recognized for his many achievements throughout the years. He topped Billboard Magazine’s “Power 100” as the most powerful executive in the music business numerous times, the only person to hold that distinction three times and for consecutive years. In 2016, Berklee College of Music presented Grainge with an honorary doctor of music degree, in 2015 he received the Spirit of Life Award from City of Hope and in 2014, he was awarded the President’s Merit Award by The Recording Academy.

A native of London, Sir Lucian was bestowed with a knighthood in 2016 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list for accomplishments in the music industry and leadership through its challenging times, contributions to British business and inward investment, as well as his development of innovative business models, technology and media partnerships that have expanded UMG’s global presence. For his service to global creative industries, he was recognized in Britain’s New Years Honors and awarded Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2010. That same year, he was named a Trustee of the American Friends of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Grainge serves on the boards of Lionsgate Entertainment and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

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